DEMARCHE ON UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL-CANDIDACY OF

C O N F I D E N T I A L ADDIS ABABA 001438 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR IO/RHS, DRL/MLGA AND EUR/PGI E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/09/2017 TAGS: PHUM PREL UNHRC ET SUBJECT: DEMARCHE ON UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL-CANDIDACY OF BELARUS REF: A. STATE 63345 ¶B. STATE 58056 (NOTAL) Classified By: POL-ECON COUNSELOR KEVIN SULLIVAN. REASON: 1.4 (B) AND (D) ¶1. (C) Poloff delivered ref B points on May 9 to MFA Director of Europe and the Americas Tebege Berhe and to desk officer for the U.S. Third Secretary Adam Tesfaye. Tesfaye inquired about the status of discussions with other Eastern European member states, and asked whether any additional candidates from the Eastern European region had emerged. ¶2. (C) COMMENT: Ethiopia may support Slovenia or a third candidate, instead of Belarus. MFA Second Secretary for International Organizations and Economic Cooperation Yoseph Kassaye subsequently informed poloff that he would discuss with senior GOE officials the possibility of issuing a written statement (per ref B) to this effect. As one of 15 members of the African Union's Peace and Security Council, however, Ethiopia may support a common African position, if one emerges. END COMMENT. YAMAMOTO